One of my favorite aspects about sci-fi and fantasy is the intense world-building that can ensue. I love these imaginary places and people where the culture is richly defined, especially novel magical systems. However, there is a fine line between establishing a strong sense of a world and being way too detailed (I’m looking at you, Brandon Sanderson). Here are some books featuring world-building that I have found to be strong but not overwhelming, for the most part.
The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett
When the first book came out, City of Stairs, it barely on my radar but I gave it a shot and I am so glad I did. This book was heartbreaking and dramatic with everything I love. Gods, cities, culture-clash, and complex characters. Bennett pulls no punches and throughout the trilogy your heart will break, but you will also fall in love with this complicated and brutal world where gods once ruled and magic lives in the margins. This trilogy is the type of urban fantasy that will bridge the gap to epic fantasy. Somewhere between The Dresden Files and Mistborn.
The Craft Sequence by Max Gladstone
What if magic was law and sorcerers were lawyers? That is the basic premise of the world in the Craft sequence. Set in a world where some gods have fallen and others fight, magic is transactional and politics abound. There are many storylines to follow in the Craft Sequence which all relate in some form or fashion. It’s hard to say where to start with this series as the publication order is different from the internal chronology. For the first five books, the number referred to in the title reflects its place in the world’s chronology. So you can either start with Last First Snow (first in chronological order) or Four Roads Cross (first published).
The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
N.K. Jemisin is a star in the speculative fiction world, having won three straight Hugos for her Broken Earth Trilogy. However, I was first introduced to her work with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and I still enjoy it more. I’m not sure if it is because it was my first Jemisin or because it was sexier, but I found it to be more accessible than the Broken Earth trilogy. Also, it featured what is becoming increasingly obvious as I make this list is a favorite subject of mine, interesting gods and their complex relationship with mortals. So if you like Jemisin’s newer works, it is interesting to look at her earlier work. This trilogy pairs well with the Divine Cities.
War of the Realms series by J. Patrick Black
The first book, Ninth City Burning, has its detractors due to its possibly excessive world building. It is definitely one of the lengthier mentions on this list but the detail, to me, was not overbearing. In fact I relished every explanation of how the complex magic/science works in this alien-invasion story. The plot is fairly complex and I don’t want to go into a lot of detail due as spoilers begin almost right at the beginning, but suffice it to say that humans are under attack and they are fighting back.
Set in contemporary Britain, this book is what you would get if you crossed X-Men with James Bond and sprinkled in a little bit of Monty Python. Filled with dry British humor, the story follows Myfanwy Thomas who awakes having had her memory erased only to find out that she is 1) under threat from unknown forces and 2)is a high ranking figure in the mutant government agency. Myfanwy is helped by the clues her former self left behind for her, which prove to be excellent fodder for world-building. There is a sequel to The Rook, Stiletto, but it does suffer a bit from sophomore slump.
The Founders trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett
Yes, this is the second Bennett series on the list. What can I say? I like his stuff. Foundryside is far and away more detailed than the Divine Cities, on the same level as Ninth City Burning really. It however, has a unique and well explained magical system that is similar to coding. The story follows a young thief, Sancia Grado, who gets on the wrong side of the all powerful Merchant Houses in a fantastical city that is reminiscent of Renaissance Italy. With intense and pretty crazy heists, fights, and action this book offers much for readers who enjoy Sanderson and Rothfuss.
Wayfarers universe by Becky Chambers
My love of world building stems in part due to my love of Star Trek. I liked learning about new alien worlds and how they all interconnected. For a while, I felt that science fiction was leaning a little too hard into the space opera or literary way but Becky Chambers brought fresh new life into the large but intimate galaxy of alien civilizations. While each book in the universe is standalone, they have some common characters and enhance the world that Chambers has created. From ragtag crews of space tunnelers to the trials of generation ships, old science fiction fans and newcomers will find something to like in all of her books.
Imperial Radch universe by Ann Leckie
This series is one that has also garnered a lot of awards and attention. The world that Leckie builds is both progressive and oppressive and gives the reader a lot to think about. It follows Breq, a lone AI fragment of the destroyed battle starship, Justice of Toren, in her quest for revenge and answers. Beyond the fast moving plot, the Radch empire is full of interesting characters and cultural norms. With only one gender, all pronouns are feminine and the language style takes a little getting used to. The follow-up novel, Provenance, adds a different human culture with three genders and establishes Leckie as a progressive and thoughtful speculative fiction author.
Lemons & Lemonade 